Allow Me to Live Like You
Alexnandru Van Gordon
(Yawns) Sunday already? Where does the time fly? Anyway, I hope you liked that last chapter (thanks to all of you who read it) and I hope you continue to like what I have to hand out. I'm wracking at my brain because I'm stuck with one of two decisions…
HW: (Opens door a crack and knocks) Ummm…can I come in?
Alex: Yeah, sure.
HW: (Steps inside and sits on bed) What's on your mind?
Alex:…You already know. I can't decide if I'm going to kill you or not.
HW: Thought so…
Alex: It was my original intention to do so because I really don't like adding new characters to a perfectly good setup for a story. But…I'm still deciding…
HW: When do I get to find out?
Alex: Either A) at the end of the story, or B) when you die.
HW: Do I get to find out in this chapter? (Melancholy, shoulders drooping)
Alex: (Sad) Don't know. It depends on how far I get in this chapter…
WARNING: You already know a character death, or two, is on the way, but so is violence. Not too bad, though, but the ending nears—so just be prepared. The ending might be a little gruesome…I'm still unsure…
DISCLAIMER: (Puts an arm around HW's shoulders) HW here is my one and only creation, besides the plot. Everything else belongs someone else, but I'm fine with just HW.
CHAPTER NINE: Call up heaven
AHHH! Now was not the time for this to be happening! Actually, the timing could never have been worse!
Speedy typed away at the keyboard frantically, pinpointing all areas on the screen. The bank, the prison, the asylum, the museum—anywhere havoc could break out, it was happening—by civilians and criminals alike! What was happening?
What did he care?
No—that wasn't the right attitude. What was he thinking? He had to get the JL down to the city.
Pressing a small red button, the screen split up to show each JL communicator—all answered in an instant.
The Green Lantern glared at Speedy. "If you don't open the door in this instant—"
"Not now!" He exclaimed, sending them the coordinates. "We have major trouble going on down town. We'll discuss the CR later."
"What!" Half of them shouted in unison, but he had no time to answer. Turning around, he dashed for his motorcycle and grabbed his helmet. He had to warn Robin. Slade was up to something big this time…
-R-
It was because of the gunfire that they dived toward the streets and landed on the sidewalk. The museum was under attack by…no one. The Joker, Two Face, the Riddler…not any of them were there and neither were there any masked minor criminals. Someone just went crazy and shot a gun, getting into a fight with everyone else.
Boy was he in a bad mood.
"Guess Slade will have to wait." Robin muttered, dismounting Beast Boy who disagreed with a screechy squawk.
The green changeling returned to his humanoid state and ran after Robin, grabbing his arm to stop him. "Dude! It's something in the air! Put on that little mask thing you said is a gas mask."
Robin was confused, but he obeyed. Opening a compartment on his belt, he pulled out a small gas mask and placed it over his mouth. Clean air filled his lungs again and he felt lightheaded for a moment. He felt strangely calmer, less tense than he was before…
What was happening? Did this have to do with Slade? No doubt there…
"Look!" Beast Boy shouted and pointed to the roof of the building. Red-X was up there—and with him was the Joker. They were having one heck of a fight until Harlequin popped up on scene and shot at him with her grenade launcher. The force of the explosion pushed Red-X off the side of the roof…falling—until he shot out his grappling hook and landed on the ground.
People were fleeing by now, too afraid for their lives to be fighting. Thank God for that.
Red-X released his grappling hook—and fell to one knee, a hand over his waist. The hand was bloody, and so was the long gash across his stomach.
Robin ran to his side and knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You have to get out of here. Beast Boy said there's something in the air—"
"Built in gasmask." Red-X laughed weakly. "And I know about the gas. That was what I wanted to tell you. Slade has the controller on his wrist."
"What else is new…"
This complicated things. How was he supposed to stop Slade and an entire city from creating a mass destruction? If he got to Slade… But Slade had Starfire.
One life to millions.
Still—that made no sense. He could save both with one stone. He just had to surrender…
"What are you thinking?" Red-X laughed again. "Not thinking of surrendering, are you?"
"How do you know me?"
"We've met in real life."
"I hate to interrupt your happy greetings, but there's work to be done."
Robin stood straight and glared at the Joker. The issue at the bank was one thing, but now was his chance for revenge. This man brought everything he knew and loved downhill at a fall, he almost ended his life and most certainly ended the father/son bonding he had with Bruce. Ever since him…
"Hello again, bird boy." The Joker laughed, a stream of black smoke rising behind him and Harlequin. "I know our previous meeting was cut short, but we have something even older to continue."
Robin just frowned.
The Joker pulled out the gun…the exact same gun he used on Robin when he almost killed him. This wasn't a fake.
Click.
Taking aim.
"One…"
This couldn't be happening…
"Two…"
Why wasn't he moving? Why wasn't he doing something…?
"Robin!"
Batman?
"Three—"
BANG!
He stumbled back. He wasn't the only one who had been frozen to the spot. Beast Boy just snapped out of his shock and yelled Robin's name, but no one moved to touch him.
Robin stared at the Yellow R. Sure enough, just in the center of the loop…was a dent. His new emblem was made of metal, not cloth like it had been last time. The bullet ricocheted off the R to somewhere, harmless, leaving him with nothing but a small bruise.
He looked up at the Joker, then slowly turned his head to the right… Not too far away stood Batman, frozen with wide white eyes (you know how his eyes look). At least he had been there to see the shot this time.
"Late again, I see." The Joker said, that annoying grin plastered on his chalk white face. "I know you're not that old, Bats—then why all the delays? Well, Robin. I think he, unlike others, wants you dead."
"Shut up!" Beast Boy yelled, standing now beside Robin. "Don't listen to him, dude. He's putting thoughts in your head."
"Shut it, beastie!" The Joker scowled, aiming his pistol back at Robin. "Ask him, Robin—why is he always late? He's never late to save someone else, then why is it he only misses you? Aren't you two partners?"
"Were…" Robin muttered. He didn't move to attack the Joker with his birdarangs. Why bother? If he died who cared—that was he price of being a hero anyway. Bruce wouldn't care…
Meanwhile, Batman was speechless. He said nothing and only stood in his worried state. Then he grabbed a batarang from his belt and readied it. "Enough games, Joker."
"Who's playing? I asked a simple question and it looks like your little kid wants to know. Doesn't he at least deserve an answer, or is he worth that little to you?"
-B-
He didn't know how to answer that question. It was obvious he didn't do it on purpose, but how would it look to Robin who had almost died because of his mistake, now hating him even more for separating him from his friends. He almost died again tonight and Batman wasn't there to save him. His father wasn't there to save him…
Robin was worth more than anything to Bruce.
It's only something—you could say with certainty—that is worth more than your very life. Something worth dying to keep.
Deathstroke…that was who was behind all this. That bloody mercenary was back in Gotham for revenge. But why Robin…why would he be after Robin—why not just kill him for revenge?
Then it hit him—the papers he had to file that contained all the information about Deathstroke: AKA: Slade Wilson. This was Slade…this was the man he killed—the exact same man who ran into Robin and was making his life a living hell. And Batman didn't believe him when he said he saw his nemesis still alive…How had he lost so much faith in his son…
"Robin…" He said, and the boy slowly turned his head to face him. "Robin, you have to run."
"Why?" He asked apathetically. "I'm here to fight, and if I die in duty—then I die in duty."
"You won't die, Robin… Deathstroke…Slade…he's behind this all. The Joker's not going to shoot you—"
Then, unexpectedly, he was struck on the head from behind. He fell forward, vision doubled, but forced himself to stay conscious. He faintly saw Robin and his green friend run his way, but they were stopped by a gunshot. Robin paused and the changeling grabbed his arm, releasing a cry of pain.
"Don't move."
Batman took in a deep breathe, forehead leaned against the cement. How had he been so stupid? Why didn't he listen to Robin—Robin had no reason to lie to him or to go insane. He was tough for his age.
His attacker walked into his sight, that one eye boring down on him. That half-orange—half-black mask…he never forgot it then and he would never forget it now.
There were his robots sneaking out from the shadows, advancing on them all. None of them fought in fear that the Joker would shoot someone else, but he apparently wasn't the only one with a gun. Much to Batman's surprise, Slade held one in his own hand. One eye narrowing, the malicious mercenary took careful aim at Batman's face…
"NO!"
Slade hesitated, and even Batman was surprised. How awkward it felt to be saved by someone he hurt so badly, someone who needed saving more than himself. Robin was a true hero at heart.
"No?" Slade questioned, venom in his voice. "No? You are such a fool, child! Are you too naive to understand that he is only getting what he deserves?"
"No one deserves to die." Robin whispered.
Slade continued to hesitate, trigger finger ready. But he stopped. He lowered his gun arm and two of his humanoid robots stalked over toward Batman, who, now, was slowly going unconscious.
"Be grateful his loyalties lie with you now." Slade hissed only for Batman's ears to hear. "Soon you will see what masterpiece can be created from the dull clay you neglected for so long."
"Don't…touch him…" Batman warned, but then he saw darkness. He heard nothing and felt nothing besides the cool numbing of his body as he blacked-out.
Robin had saved him.
-HW-
The pain was almost unbearable, but the cool numbing sensation was finally taking over her body. For a moment, after being thrown onto the floor near the strange girl, she actually thought it was over. She was dead. But no, the man had only stopped to get something. She wasn't listening too closely to his muttering, but she heard something about getting everything over and done with, and heard the word "knife" somewhere at the end of a sentence. He moved away toward the desk and she was left in what little peace she could enjoy.
The sparkling green eyes of the beautiful girl gave her identity away immediately. This was the girl Robin describe to her during her "makeover" session, the alien princess of Tamerainia. She looked as kind and as innocent as he said she was in nature, a true kindred spirit.
HW found herself smiling a second time. She understood how innocent this girl was, how horrible it must be for her to see all this happening. That was why HW smiled at her the first time, telling her silently not to be afraid…not to worry…
"He loves you…" HW whispered softly so the man wouldn't hear. "You are…Starfire…correct?..."
She found it hard to breathe but willed the air to fill her lungs, struggling to say what she wanted to say. There was still time. There was always time…
The man continued to look.
At least it would be quick.
Or maybe not.
"You have powers…right?" She asked, and the confused girl nodded. The girl looked to the desk with the chemicals and HW understood. "But you're too weak…to use them?"
Another nod.
"Are you strong enough to survive electrocution?"
The girl paused.
She was a fool for asking…but then the girl nodded. Robin spoke of her inhuman strength that was amazing beyond belief.
"Do you think you can handle a little of it right now?"
She was weak, but she still had enough kick inside her to give a good shock. The only thing that had stopped her in the past was the room…the metal room, floor, walls, and all. If Starfire hadn't been there, she would have given Slade the wake-up call of his life for touching her, but she wasn't sure. After all, her life was worth less than anyone's.
The girl nodded—but she didn't look afraid. She looked hopeful, catching on to what HW was going to do.
Thank you, God.
The man returned, knelt beside her, and flipped her onto her back with her arms by her sides. He held a long rusty knife, the type a hunter would use to skin a bear. The tip was pressed against her sternum directly in line with the heart for aim. Then, the man not bothering to spare her a goodbye, the knife was raised high and came down—
—Screams filled the air, both from Starfire and the man. HW groaned, but she was used to pain by now and a veteran of electrocution having zapped her own self numerous times in the past. Lightning cackled everywhere in the room, focused mainly on the man from HW's train of thought.
Then it was over as soon as it had begun. The older man fell limply to the ground beside HW and the alien girl was taking in large gasps of air. HW was gasping too, but hers were far less audible. She was amazed how well that worked out.
Somehow finding the strength to move, she turned back on her stomach and crept toward Starfire. Taking a moment's breath, she began untying the girl, first her mouth and then her wrists.
"Who are you?" The girl asked innocently, helping HW to work on her ankles.
"Halloween…" She breathed, surprised she could still talk. "Call me…HW…"
Then she collapsed. Her heart was so sore and she was so dame exhausted. That shock had been like nothing else she had felt before, and it didn't help that she was on the brink of death before she had done that stupid stunt. Maybe she had outdone herself.
At least Starfire was still alive, and what of the man?
"Friend H and W!" Starfire exclaimed, pulling HW's head so that it rested on her lap. "Please do fall asleep. You must keep awake…"
HW smiled and laughed weakly. "I'm tired…so tired…"
"You cannot sleep! What if you are not to wake, friend! You have saved me and now I must repay you for the risking of your life!"
"Then call up heaven…" She continued, not quite sure if the girl caught her joke. "Tell them…I might be on my way…"
"NO!"
No?...The dark was so beautiful. It wrapped around her like a cool blanket on a warm summer night, so refreshing…She wanted to stay that way and sleep forever…sleep forever…
-A-
I know this one is shorter than usual, but it's only because of the ending. Keep reading and you might be surprised. Did I really kill off HW, or is there something else than what human eyes can see? You'll have to read to find out, and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. This chapter leads to the final frontier—the last battle of good verses evil. It may take a couple more chapters for me to complete, but you'll see. Everything is going to tie together soon…
-Still crying for HW
-Alexnandru Van Gordon